Former All White Mark Elrick joins academy partner’s team at Gold Coast

posted in: News, Partners

Former All White Mark Elrick has joined the coaching team at X-Cel Football Development who are the Gold Coast-based partners with the Ricki Herbert Football Academy.

X-Cel provides player development courses for the Ormeau Football Club, with whom the RHFA has an on-going relationship through tours and matches.

Elrick made 40 appearances for the New Zealand national team which included games against the United States, Germany and Brazil in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Mark Elrick
Greg Lawrence

Mark Elrick’s arrival at the Gold Coat re-unites three former Papatoetoe players as he, Herbert and X-Cel founder Greg Lawrence all played at the South Auckland club.

Elrick says he’s enjoying the experience of coaching in Queensland and is impressed by the sport’s focus on helping develop players in the 9-13 age group.

“These are the players who are old enough to know they are committed to football and they are still young enough to develop the right techniques and learn what it takes to become a good player,” he says.

Ricki Herbert says he’s delighted Elrick has joined the X-Cel and Ormeau coaching team and looks forward to RHFA players resuming their trans-Tasman tours.

Main photo: Players from X-Cel/Ormeau FC ready for another sesssion.